Speaker: Pat Piper, Vice President/Group Creative Director at Barkley Evergreen & Partners, Kansas City, MO
November 18, 2009
The Sonic “2 Guys” campaign set a new standard in advertising – throw everything out and go with something new. The suits at Sonic wanted the admen to emphasize how quirky menu items such as corndogs, tater tots, pancakes on a stick and cherry limeades made Sonic better than the kings of the drive-thru: McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's.
The campaign was supposed to last just four months, from September 2003 to the beginning of a new campaign in January 2004. Five years later, the campaign is still going and has become a pop-culture phenomenon. The commercials have given the quirky drive-in an identity and made Sonic as recognizable as McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's. Friends quote the commercials to each other. Fanatics post parodies of the spots on YouTube. Haters write angry letters to Sonic and rip the spots on the Internet.
Pat Piper is an ad prodigy. At the age of three, he wrote his first direct mail piece with a bounce back coupon. At six, he completed his first tri-fold brochure for a local bank. From there, it was point of purchase, annual reports and ads. At twelve, he successfully wrote and directed his own commercial. He was also producer and worked the craft services table. Soon enough, Pat was becoming a local ad star, coming up with catchy jingles and slogans. Unfortunately, his father wanted him to become a professional whittler, making pipes and keepsake hobo clowns to adorn shelves. But Pat wouldn’t have it. When Pat’s father bought him a whittling kit, Pat hocked it for a down payment on a Mac classic where he could spend his nights writing long copy ads that no one would read.
Despite his Father’s misgivings, Pat began his advertising career in Omaha, Nebraska, working for a couple advertising agencies as a writer. But Pat had his eyes on the bright lights and the wide-open spaces of Kansas City. There he worked with Muller & Company for a few years before settling at Barkley. Over the past ten years, Pat has written for everything from Banks to Burgers winning awards with fancy names like Mercury, Clios, Cannes, One Show and Communications Arts. He is currently a Vice President/Group Creative Director at Barkley.
WHEN - Wednesday, November 18th , 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
WHERE - Joe T. Garcia's "La Puertita"
2201 N. Commerce St. Fort Worth, TX 76164
FEES - Member - $20.00; Non-Member - $35.00; Student - $15.00
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